Illinois-Ball State Animated GIFs
There is no roughing if the kick is blocked. We are fortunate Milan got it or it would have been fifteen yards and a retry.
I was actually curious about this so I looked it up in the NCAA rule book yesterday (I know, I should have better things to do
). Article 16(a) of the rules lists the rule of roughing or running into the kicker or holder. Here is the section:
Roughing or Running Into Kicker or Holder
ARTICLE 16. a. When it is obvious that a scrimmage kick will be made, no opponent shall run into or rough the kicker or the holder of a place kick (A.R. 9-1-16-I, III and VI).
1. Roughing is a live-ball personal foul that endangers the kicker or holder.
2. Running into the kicker or holder is a live-ball foul that occurs when the kicker or holder is displaced from his kicking or holding position but is not roughed (A.R. 9-1-16-II).
3. Incidental contact with a kicker or holder is not a foul.
4. The kicker’s protection under this rule ends (a)when he has had a reasonable time to regain his balance(A.R. 9-1-16-IV); or (b)when he
carries the ball outside the tackle box (Rule 2-34) before kicking.
5. When a defensive player’s contact against the kicker or holder is caused by an opponent’s block (legal or illegal), there is no foul for
running into or roughing.
6. A player who makes contact with the kicker or holder after touching
the kick is not charged with running into or roughing the kicker.
7. When a player other than one who blocks a scrimmage kick runs into
or roughs the kicker or holder, it is a foul.
8. When in question whether the foul is running into or roughing, the
foul is roughing.
b. A kicker or holder simulating being roughed or run into by a defensive
player commits an unsportsmanlike act (A.R. 9-1-16-V).Roughing or Running Into Kicker or Holder
ARTICLE 16. a. When it is obvious that a scrimmage kick will be made, no opponent shall run into or rough the kicker or the holder of a place kick (A.R. 9-1-16-I, III and VI).
1. Roughing is a live-ball personal foul that endangers the kicker or holder.
2. Running into the kicker or holder is a live-ball foul that occurs when the kicker or holder is displaced from his kicking or holding position but is not roughed (A.R. 9-1-16-II).
3. Incidental contact with a kicker or holder is not a foul.
4. The kicker’s protection under this rule ends (a)when he has had a reasonable time to regain his balance(A.R. 9-1-16-IV); or (b)when he
carries the ball outside the tackle box (Rule 2-34) before kicking.
5. When a defensive player’s contact against the kicker or holder is caused by an opponent’s block (legal or illegal), there is no foul for
running into or roughing.
6. A player who makes contact with the kicker or holder after touching
the kick is not charged with running into or roughing the kicker.
7. When a player other than one who blocks a scrimmage kick runs into
or roughs the kicker or holder, it is a foul.
8. When in question whether the foul is running into or roughing, the
foul is roughing.
b. A kicker or holder simulating being roughed or run into by a defensive
player commits an unsportsmanlike act (A.R. 9-1-16-V).
See #7 above. Since the player that ran into the kicker was not the one that blocked the kick, a penalty could have been called per the rules. I checked and it has actually been called that way before (see here: http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/marshall-western-kentucky-roughing-running-kicker-foul-rule-thundering-herd-mike-pereira-112814).So I think we did catch a break with the no call (about time Illini football got a break IMO)!
JDHalfrack
- Springfield, IL
Thanks for that clarification, ChicagoIllini. I actually thought the same thing basementcheetos thought.
JDHalfrack
- Springfield, IL
Followup questions: looking at the replay, is it possible that either a) Watkins actually did tip it or b) the refs at least thought he did?
And, is a roughing the kicker penalty reviewable? Could the refs have looked at it to determine who actually blocked it?
And, is a roughing the kicker penalty reviewable? Could the refs have looked at it to determine who actually blocked it?